25 Best Thanksgiving Picture Books for Kids and Adults in 2024
Today I will share with you the 25 Best Thanksgiving Picture Books for Kids and Adults in 2024.
The great gifts of nature, the caring and loving care of parents, the ardent support of friends, and the selfless help of strangers...
These are small blessings that are easily overlooked, but they can always bring infinite warmth to our lives.
With Thanksgiving coming, read these picture books with your children, let the toddler grow up with a grateful heart, learn to appreciate those people and things that bring warmth, and say to them sincerely: "Thank you!"
1. Thanksgiving Is
Thanksgiving is a day to express gratitude. There are pumpkins, turkeys, reunions, feasts, games, performances, festive parades, sharing, and thanks.
2. The First Thanksgiving
Simple language vividly tells the origin of Thanksgiving. The Step into Reading series of Books has invited many well-known writers to carefully arrange content suitable for children of various reading levels, use bright pictures, and enhance the layout with pictures and texts. Content on a variety of topics appeals to kids of all hobbies.
3. The Best Thanksgiving Ever!
"In late November, the blue sky was clear and Thanksgiving was finally here. So many hugs, so many kisses, so many 'Happy Thanksgiving' wishes."
4. It's Thanksgiving!
The turkeys are celebrating Thanksgiving! The parade is about to begin, and the pumpkin pie is baking in the oven. The whole family gathered around the table and waited for the big meal to start!
5. The Thanksgiving Story
This is an excellent picture book that has won the Caldecott Award, and it is also a wonderful picture book about Thanksgiving. The author tells the origin of Thanksgiving from the perspective of the Hopkins family.
6. 'Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving
The day before Thanksgiving, the children in the story visit a turkey farm. They were shocked to learn that the farmer planned to kill all the turkeys. So the kids decided to "smuggle" all the turkeys home...
7. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
In this lovely story, Charlie Brown and his friends go looking for the Thanksgiving "thank you", can they find it? Let's have a look!
8. Thank you, little apple!
Apples are delicious and healthy fruit with a flattering round shape. Do you know what process an apple needs to go through to grow from a seed to a big tree? Concise and interesting language, hand-painted and collage-combined drawing methods allow young readers to understand the growing process of apples, and at the same time appreciate the gift of nature.
9. Danke, gutes Brot! by Anne Möller
Each of us has eaten bread, what process does a grain of wheat need to go through to become food?
The author uses concise language and vivid pictures to let young readers understand that seemingly ordinary food is actually hard-won, and can also appreciate all the gifts from nature and people's hard work so that they can cherish food more.
10. A Sky Without Birds
Monsieur Moisson was a well-known man in the town, and he had extremely dexterous hands. One day, the little boy Victor brought a bird that had fallen and asked him if he could heal it. Since then, Mr. Moisson has started an unknown secret work...
The stories full of romance, with strong style illustrations, full poetic and touching plots stories, will guide children to experience the beauty and vastness of nature and cultivate children's gratitude, tolerance, and compassion.
11. Brother Eagle, Sister Sky
Through the meticulous color paintings and the heartfelt voice of the chief, the Aboriginal people's love and respect for nature are expressed, and the deep family-like feelings between the Aboriginal people and the land are revealed.
At the same time, it also reminds readers that animals and us humans are part of the earth and should respect each other, to inspire children to pay attention to and love nature.
12. For Everyone To Share
The little mouse walked out of the house for the first time. He was amazed by everything in front of him. There were so many incredible sights outside! He was curious, where is this place? Who does it belong to?
13. Thank You World
In this pleasing picture book, eight different children, from eight different countries, witness the splendor of thousands of worlds with innocent eyes. Learn to feel the world with gratitude, and you and I will be able to discover more scenery from it.
14. Who Is the World For?
Through the parent-child dialogue of different animals, the children are moved and admired by nature, and they are also more and more respectful of life and nature, and are full of gratitude and respect for the world!
15. Thank You Bear
Little Bear found a box, he thought it was a great box, and believed that the little mouse would like this box as much as he did, but when he shared it with other animals, the animals' indifferent reaction made Little Bear begin to doubt himself, this Is the box really as good as he thought?
16. The Lion and the Mouse
The little mouse inadvertently woke the sleeping lion. Facing the lion who was so angry that he wanted to eat him, the mouse begged the lion to let him go this time and would repay him in the future.
The lion agreed. Later, when the lion encountered difficulties, the little mouse's seemingly insignificant gratitude brought infinite vitality.
17. Balloons Over Broadway
Winner of the 2012 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Everyone’s a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”?
Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! In brilliant collage illustrations, the award-winning artist Melissa Sweet tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America—the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy’s Parade.
18. Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
Bear has come up with the perfect way to say thanks—a nice big dinner! When Bear decides to throw a feast, his friends show up one by one with different platters of delicious food to share. There’s just one problem: Bear’s cupboards are bare! What is he to do?
Karma Wilson’s playful text and Jane Chapman’s charming illustrations bring to life this celebration of family and friendship. Young readers will delight in discovering the special gift Bear has to share.
19. Turkey Trouble by Wendi J Silvano
Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it’s almost Thanksgiving…and you’re the main course.
But Turkey has an idea―what if he doesn’t look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead?
After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever! Wendi Silvano’s comical story is perfectly matched by Lee Harper’s watercolors.
20. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey!
The old lady is at it again, and this time she's swallowing a Turkey . . . she's always been quirky!
The old lady is at it again, and this time she's swallowing a Turkey . . . she's always been quirky! You won't believe why this old lady swallowed a turkey, a ball, a hat, a balloon, a boat, some wheels, and a horn of plenty! Read this book and find out why!
21. I Am Thankful
Thanksgiving books for kids teach us about coming together with our loved ones and giving thanks for all that we have. I Am Thankful is an adorable, rhyming storybook that follows three different families as they celebrate the holiday with their own traditions, acts of kindness, and ways of giving back.
Kids will learn how to be thankful for the people and world around them as they delight in the sweet illustrations that show diverse families and exciting Thanksgiving adventures. This heartfelt, poetic story will show young ones the meaning of giving and sharing.
Go beyond other Thanksgiving books for kids, with:
- A holiday adventure―Enjoy an extended, rhyming story with 50 pages of Thanksgiving fun!
- Your own thankfulness practice―Discover a short section in the back including activities and crafts designed to foster more thankfulness.
- An inclusive story―Learn the true meaning of community with a diverse cast of characters and a universally welcoming story.
If you are looking for Thanksgiving books for kids, I Am Thankful is a warm, fun story for all.
22. Thanksgiving is for giving thanks
Thanksgiving is about pilgrims and history--and turkey, of course!--but most importantly, it's a holiday all about everything that we are thankful for. Cheerful, colorful illustrations accompany the simple text in this celebration of family, friends, and the holiday that brings them all together.
A great introduction to the concept of giving thanks and appreciating everyday things.
23. Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by James Dean
Starring in your school’s Thanksgiving play would make even the coolest cat nervous, including Pete the Cat! But the show must go on….
With more than ten flaps that open to reveal hidden surprises, Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving is sure to be a holiday hit and a favorite for Pete the Cat fans.
24. Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney
In Llama Llama Gives Thanks, it's Thanksgiving time for Llama Llama and his family! That means yummy foods and autumn leaves and being thankful for everything from pumpkin pies to blue skies. Thanksgiving may only come once a year, but in Llama's family, giving thanks is always here!
With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers before they’re ready for longer full-length stories. And their small size and durable pages are perfect for little hands.
Llama Gives Thanks was one of Anna’s final projects before she passed on in 2016. Her love of language, playful sensibility, and ability to entertain and comfort young children are evident in all of her books.
25. The Night Before Thanksgiving
Everyone’s favorite fun-filled, family-filled, food-filled holiday is almost here! Follow along as the feast is prepared, cousins are greeted, and everyone gathers around the table, all with an extra helping of holiday fun.
This family fun read-aloud makes the perfect gift to get young readers excited for this festive fall holiday!
You may also like: Best Thanksgiving Picture Books
- Thankful for Family (Berenstain Bears)
- Dr. Seuss's Thankful Things
- Corduroy’s Thanksgiving
- I Am Thankful
- Five Silly Turkeys
- Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks
- Thanks for Nothing
- T Is for Turkey
- Thanksgiving Parade
- Keepunumuk
- Around the Table that Granddad Built
- I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie
- Sharing the Bread
- Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie
- Giving Thanks
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About Muhiuddin Alam
Muhiuddin Alam is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ReadingAndThinking.com. He serves as a consistent contributor to various websites and publications, including Medium, Quora, Reddit, Linkedin, Substack, Vocal, Flipboard, and Amazon KDP. Alam personally read numerous books and, for the past 10 years, has been providing book recommendations and reviews. Find Me: About Me & Google Knowledge Panel.
